Simulated baseball game



March 17, 1953 H. J. VOLMAN.

SIMULATED BASEBALL GAME Original Filed May 19, 1948 Patented Mar. 17,1953 SIMULATED BASEBALL GAME Harold J. Volman, Cicero, Ill., assignor toToy Enterprises of America, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation ofIllinois Continuation of application Serial No. 27,992, May 19, 1948.This application October 25,

1950, Serial No. 192,055

3 Claims.

The present invention relates to games and more particularly to a gamehaving a playing field over which a projectile is adapted to bepropelled and in which magnetic means is utilized to intercept theprojectile at scoring positions.

A primary object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedgame having a playing surface over which a ball of magnetic material isadapted to be propelled and a plurality of ball intercepters of magneticmaterial interspersed in the field in which either or both the ball andintercepters are permanently magnetized so that balls propelled over thefield are magnetically intercepted rather than being mechanicallyintercepted as in conventional games of this type.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedgame which may be made to simulate quite closely at regular baseballgame in layout and in manner of playing, and which requires and developsstrategy and skill in playmg.

A more specific object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved game as above set forth in which the field is laid off tosimulate a baseball field and in which the intercepting means arepermanent magnets, and certain of the intercepting means are arranged tocorrespond generally with the positions occupied by the infielders andoutfielders of a baseball team, and other of the intercepters arelocated at positions in the field corresponding generally with regionsinto which base hits are made, and the former intercepters have indiciadesignating outs while the latter have indicia designating the value tobe assigned when a ball is intercepted at those positions.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new andimproved game as above set forth which may be packaged in a flat boxlikestructure, the side walls of which define the perimeter of the playingfield and prevent escape of propelled balls from the field.

A general object of the invention is the provision of a new and improvedgame of simple is had to the accompanying drawing, in-which:

Fig. 1 is atop plan view of the improved game of the present inventionshowing the layout of the playing field;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical cross-sectional view of the game on anenlarged scale; and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the ballpropelling means partly broken away more clearly to show its structure.

This application is a continuation of my copending application (nowabandoned) Serial No. 27,992, filed May 19, 1948, and entitled SimulatedBaseball Game.

As indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, the game of the present invention may,for example, be packaged in a relatively fiat boxlike structure ofcardboard, paper board, or any other suitable material, which may beapproximately 14 inches square and 1 inch high. This boxlike structureincludes a bottom section Hi and a top section or cover I2 adapted to bereceived over the bottom section. Both of these sections may beconstructed in a manner conventional in the paper box art. The bottomsection has a bottom wall [4 and upstanding peripheral walls It and isadapted to contain all the other elements of the game. Thus when thecover is placed on the bottom section, the game forms a packageconvenient for handling, storage, shipment or display, and by virtue ofits relatively small size it may be set up for playing upon any fiatsurface such as a card table.

Fixed in the bottom section 10 is a laminated base 58 which includes arelatively thick intermediate sectionor lamination 20 of relativelylight weight paper board and paper top and bottom laminations 22 and 24,respectively, which may be secured to the top and bottom sides of theintermediate lamination, preferably by means of a suitable adhesive.When the base is in position in the bottom section, the top lamination22 provides a smooth and unobstructed playing surface. If desired, aslight grade may be produced in this top surface by elevating the edgesof the base section slightly along its peripheral edges so that the topsurface of the base inclines downwardly very slightly from itsperipheral edges toward its center for a purpose which will appearhereinafter.

This elevation of the peripheral edges of the base is effected by meansof spacing strips 26 disposed along the peripheral edges of the bottomsection It. These strips may be of wood or paper board and theperipheral edges of the base section are preferably rabbeted asindicated at 28 in Fig. 3 to engage upon the spacing strips 26.

Both the strips and the base may be fixed to the bottom Id of the bottomsection by means of a suitable adhesive or by detachable means if it isdesired to have the base removable.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the top side of the toplamination 22 is marked off generally to simulate a. baseball diamondand field including the usual home plate 30, pitchers mound 32, andfirst, second and third bases, designated by the members 34, 36 and 38,respectively. Right and left field foul zones are defined outside thelines extending from home plate to first base, and home plate to thirdbase, respectively,v and the extensions of these lines. These areas beara legend as shown designating them as foul zones.

Slightly beyond the diamond a plurality oi spaced positions 49 aremarked off in the field corresponding in number and generally inlocation with respect to the diamond with the position assumed by theinfielders of a baseball team in the field. Farther out in the field, itis marked with a second group of spaced position indicated individuallyby the number 42 inFig, 1. These latter positions correspond generallyin location with the positions assumed by the outfielders of a baseballteam in the field. These marked posi tions may be of any desired shape,the circles used in; the drawing being merely xemplary, and each ofthese, positions is also marked for scorin purposes to designate an.out. The manner of scoring will be described in greater detailhereinafter.

Interspersed in the field with the marked positions 40 and 42 describedabove is a plurality of other marked positions 54 which may also be ofcircular shape. These latter positions are located in the field tocorrespond generally with the regions or areas in the field into whichbase hits are made, and each of the positions is provided with indi'oiato designate the base value to be assigned to each position for scoringpurposes. In addition to these positions a pair of bunt positions 46 is:alsov provided and each of these positions is somarked.

Each of the above mentioned spaced positions has associated therewith amagnetic means for interceptin balls propelled from home plate into thefield and for holding them at the position which forms one of thefeatures of the present invention. This magnetic means may be in theform of a permanent magnet disposed below the surface of the toplamination 22 so as to leave the top surface or playing field smooth andunobstructed. To achieve thi construction the intermediate lamination2E7 is provided with apertures; or recesses 48 corresponding inlocation. to

,is disposed in each of the recesses. 18. in the intermediatelamination, and these magnets are held in position by the top and bottomlaminations 22 and 26 when the latter are fixed to the intermediatelamination. Thus a readily assembled and inexpensive construction isprovided which results in a reduction in cost of manufacture andassembly.

A ball 52 of magnetic material i provided for propelling into the fieldfrom home plate and a magnet similar to the magnets 55 may be embeddedin' the intermediate lamination below home plate for releasably holdingthe ball when it is about to be struck. However, the magnetic holding.means may bedispensed with and the top. surface of the base providedwith a shallow semir-spherical depression at home plate adapted toreceive and releasably hold the ball. The ball 52 is preferably hollowso that it is light in weight and readily propelled into the field.

In order to permit the player to control the region of the field intowhich the ball i to be propelled. in. accordance with his skill, animproved ball propelling means best. seen in Fig. 4 is provided whichwill now be described. This means includes a cylindrical finger piece 54of metal or wood and a ball striking means or bat 56 also of metal orwood. The bat normally is disposed radially of the finger piece, asshown in full lines. i-nFig; and is connected thereto by a coil spring:58-. A flexible suction cup 59 is secured Y to the underside of thefinger piece as indicated in, Fig;v 4, so that the propelling means maybe releasably fixed to. the base I8 at any desired position relative tohome plate. In playing the game a. player first fixes the finger piece54 to the base at the particular position he chooses. The outer end of.thebat thendrawn. back as indicated in phantom inFig-.. 1, and thenreleased. The spring 53 thereupon restores the bat to radial. positionwith respect to the finger piece, causing the end of the batto strikethe. ball. and propel the: same into the field.

The construction.- of the propelling means can be simplified-byeliminating. the suction cup '59 and providing the finger piece 54 witha flat bottom. side. In. playing the-game with a. propelling means ofthis type: the finger piece is held on the base [8' in any desiredposition relative to the ball at home plate with the fingers of onevhand and the bat. 56 manipulated with the fingers of the other hand;

While the finger piece 54 is shown to the right of home plate in Fig. lin apositioncorresponding to that assumed. by a, left-handed hitter, itwill be apparent that the propelling means could be operated as wellwithv the finger piece on the opposite side of home. platein. a positioncorresponding to that assumed by a right-handed hitter. Due to the factthat the position at which the propelling, means islocated in battingmay be selected by a player, itis possible quite accurately to control.the. area of: the. field into which the ball is propelled. Furthermorethe resilient connection between the bat and finger piece allows aplayer to control the force with which the ball is hit because this willdepend on the distance the bat is pulled back before being released.Thus it will be apparent that. skill. and strategy on the part of aplayer arenecessary bothin positioning the, pr pel-ling. m ansandmanipulating the bat to play th same succes ully;

. In. sin v th gam any number of contestan s from two to eighteen mayplay at one time. Pref erably the. contestants; arev divided; into.sides or teams with an equal; number of contestants, on each team and:with members of. each team alternating in batting, as in; a regularbaseball game. Scoring may follow the general pattern of a regular gameso that. such a game is simulated quite closely in. the play.. At times,and particularly when inexperienced players are. atbat, the ball willpass. through the field. without being stopped by any of theintercepters. When that happens theperiphera-l wallsv l 6 of the. bottomsection preventescapeof the ball] and, form a barrier from which theball rebounds toward the field. This effect is increased where. theperipheral edges of the base of. the ame are elevated. sligh l as.before described- It -i ..of course. e re gnized. that the. foregoininstructions. or rules are m r y suggestive and that other rules may bedevised by the players as they see fit.

Although the preferred embodiment above described utilizes separatepermanent magnets for intercepting the ball at the various positionsmarked on the field, and an unmagnetized ball of magnetic material, itshould be apparent that the ball itself might be permanently magnetizedor might carry a permanent magnet. If such a ball is used, then theintercepting means can be either a series of permanent magnets or merelyunmagnetized bodies of magnetic material. In either case interception ofthe ball will occur in the manner previously described as a result ofthe action of magnetic forces.

While the principles of the invention have been described as applied toa simulated baseball game, it should be apparent that they areapplicable to games or other types which include a playing area orfield, a projectile which is propelled into the field, and means in thefield for intercepting objects propelled thereinto where interceptionoccurs as a result of the action of magnetic forces. Moreover bysupplying each game with several cover sheets or top laminations for thebase section I8 marked ofi with different playing fields, each game mayreadily be converted from a simulated basebal1 game to some other typeof game. This can also be accomplished by removably securing the base 18in the bottom section and marking the opposite sides of the base withdifferent playing fields so that by reversing the base it will bepossible to play two games.

It should also be apparent that modifications can be made in other partsof the game, such as the ball propelling means, without departing fromthe principles of the invention. Other modifications and variations willbe suggested to those skilled in the art which come within theprinciples of the invention as above described. I, therefore, desire, bythe following claims, to include within the scope of the invention allsuch variations and modifications by which substantially the results ofmy invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the sameor equivalent means.

I claim:

1. A game board comprising a base of nonmetallic material, a plainunobstructed playing surface on said base, said playing surface beingdelineated to simulate a baseball playing field including a home plateand carrying indicia at various selected fixed positions to indicatescoring values, and metal blocks fixed on said base beneath said playingsurface and disposed immediately beneath said home plate and saidscoring positions, said metal blocks being permanently magnetizedwhereby to attract a ball of magnetizable material to said home plateand said scoring positions and to hold said ball releasably thereon.

2. The game board of claim 1 wherein said base is of relatively thickmaterial and is provided with recesses located beneath the home plateand scoring positions and said magnetized blocks are disposed in saidrecesses.

13. The game board of claim 1 wherein said playing surface is providedwith elevated peripheral edges.

HAROLD J. VOLMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,093,764 Brown Apr. 21, 19142,448,837 Siberts Sept. 7, 1948 2,470,159 Geary May 17, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 580,925 Great Britain Sept. 25, 1946

